Here are some inspiring insights into the gift of our baptism by some of the greatest saints and thinkers of the Church:
‘Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace because it is given even to the guilty; baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing because it is priestly and royal as are those anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship’ St Gregory of Nazianzus
'Baptism commits Christians to participate boldly in the spread of the Kingdom of God, cooperating if necessary with the sacrifice of one's own life...This martyrdom of ordinary life is a particularly important witness in the secularized societies of our time. It is the peaceful battle of love that all Christians, like Paul, have to fight tirelessly; the race to spread the Gospel that commits us until death. May Mary, Queen of Martyrs and Star of Evangelization, help us and assist us in our daily witness'. - Pope Benedict XVI
'The soul is regenerated in the sacred waters of baptism and thus becomes God's child'. - St. Maximilian Kolbe
'The rediscovery of the value of one's baptism is the basis of the missionary commitment of every Christian, because we see in the Gospel that he who lets himself be fascinated by Christ cannot do without witnessing the joy of following in his footsteps… we understand even more that, in virtue of baptism, we have an inherent missionary vocation'. -Pope Benedict XVI